Use of flaxseed and flaxseed derivatives for treatment of neurological disorders and viral diseases

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating neurological disorders and viral infection using whole-grain flaxseed, flaxseed lignans such as Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), human lignans metabolized from flaxseed such as Enterodiol (ED) or Enterolactone (EL), and synthetic flaxseed lignan analogs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating infection-mediated neuronal damage in a subject having infection-mediated neuronal damage comprising the step of administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a lignan, wherein said lignan is a flaxseed lignan selected from the group consisting of a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC) and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lignan is administered in the form of a flaxseed lignan complex (FLC). 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lignan is a flaxseed lignan and said flaxseed lignan is secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering comprises oral administration. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said infection is a viral infection or a bacterial infection. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said subject is a human and said infection is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said subject is receiving antiretroviral therapy. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said subject is diagnosed with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND).